New Caledonia gendarme killed in ‘accidental shooting’, minister says
A gendarme was killed today in New Caledonia, a French archipelago in the Pacific affected by riots, following an "accidental shot", announced the Minister of the Interior and Overseas, Gérald Darmanin, in a message sent to France Presse.
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Mundo Nova Caledónia
"It was not enemy fire," said a source close to the case.
On Wednesday, a 22-year-old gendarme (security forces) was shot dead on Wednesday in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, near the city of Noumea.
This latest death brings to five the death toll in the archipelago since the start of the riots, last Monday.
In a message to France Presse (AFP), Minister Gérald Darmanin explained that, according to "the first elements, the death resulted from injuries caused by an accidental shot, when the gendarmes were involved in a security mission".
Gérald Darmanin, who expressed "sadness" at what happened, added that he offered "all support to the family, friends and comrades" of the gendarme who died today.
Since the start of the riots, on Monday, 64 gendarmes and police officers have been injured in New Caledonia, said today the representative of the French Government in the archipelago, Louis Le Franc.
The police made "more than 206 arrests", according to Darmanin.
The incidents began after a new bill was presented adopted in Paris, which determines that French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for ten years are authorized to vote in local elections.
Local political leaders fear that the forces of New Caledonia will be weakened by the new measure.
On Wednesday, Paris determined the reinforcement of security with the sending of troops to the archipelago.
Read Also: State of emergency in New Caledonia due to deadly clashes (Portuguese version)
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